THE WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s wonderful humorous dramatic cantata. With a fine performance of Vaughan William’s beautiful choral work (a Classic FM Hall Of Fame composition) and a rare chance to hear Milhaud’s Suite Française in its full orchestral version.
Genre: Vocal/Choral
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Mendelssohn: ELIJAH
The first ever complete recording of this favourite oratorio from 1930.
Cast includes:
HAROLD WILLIAMS as Elijah
ISOBEL BAILLIE as an Angel
PARRY JONES as Obadiah
CLARA SERENA as an Angel
TOM PURVIS as Ahab, with
BERKELEY MASON (organ), THE WIRELESS SINGERS,
BBC NATIONAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA
conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON
Superb vintage performances and much critical acclaim. -
The Way to Heaven
James Cook writes for voices, mainly a capella, in numbers ranging from four to forty-plus. This disc continues the survey of his music started with Heaven’s Happiness (DDA 25023), written very much in the Anglican choral tradition, and ideal for skilled church and amateur choirs. All first recordings.
Also available: Heaven’s Happiness DDA 25023 – and see the composer index for more vocal, organ and harp music by James Cook.
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Heaven’s Happiness
James Cook writes for voices, mainly a capella,in numbers ranging from four to forty-plus. This disc comprises settings of Puritan writings, written very much in the Anglican choral tradition, and ideal for church, professional and amateur choirs. All first recordings.
Also available: The Way to Heaven DDA 25027. And see the composer index for vocal, organ and harp music by James Cook.
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The Obbligato Clarinet
We released this CD to celebrate the 70th birthday of celebrated clarinettist Colin Bradbury. The public launch of the disc was at Colin’s concert with Oliver at the Wigmore Hall, London on March 27, 2004. This is a delightful programme of lieder from the mid 19th century, and some of these pieces are recorded here for the first time.
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De Profundis
Father Pierucci’s first cantata to words by Regina Derieva, “Via Crucis” was described as “a major find” and ” a remarkable work” by critics. Pierucci writes in a tonal and very listenable style but with a distinctive voice of his own, and this new work, using a chamber ensemble rather than organ, takes as its basis a short, haunting motif, used in variation form in all the movements. This work, like “Via Crucis” is highly recommended to choirs and choral societies.
PIERUCCI: DE PROFUNDIS
Gintaré Skeryté (mezzo-soprano)
Aidija Chamber Choir
Vilnius String Quartet:
Audroné VainiÂÅ«naité (violin 1); ArtÅ«ras Silale (violin 2)
Girdutis Jakaitis (viola); Augustinas Vasiliauskas (cello);
with Giedrius Gelgotas (flute); Gintautas Jocius (double bass)
Directed by Romualdas Gražinis -
Franciscan Road
An anthology of hymns and chants, celebrating the story of salvation, and the work of the Franciscans who have been custodians of the sacred shrines of the Holy Land since the 13th century.
Performed by the choir and community of St Saviour’s Monastery, Jerusalem.
Tracks include the Marian Litanies, hymns by Kunc, Bourget, Fortunatus and Iaccarino and 14 traditional and Gregorian chants.
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Hail Mary
Reflections on the Rosary including traditional Russian Catholic chants, and poems by Regina Derieva. Performed by Regina Derieva, Fr. Abraham of the Monastery of the All-Merciful Saviour, Ekaterinburg, Russia and the Akathistos Choir, conducted by Pauls Putnins.
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Via Crucis
SOLOISTS, AIDIJA CHAMBER CHOIR, conducted by ROMUALDAS GRAZINIS
A new cantata, written in the most beautiful and sumptuous traditional tonal harmonies by Armando Pierucci to poems by Regina Derieva on the subject of the Stations of the Cross. A suberb new choral work described by one critic as “a major discovery”. Recorded in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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The Isles of Greece
As a composer Donald Swann was more prolific, more varied, than might be imagined from those who only know him as half of the Flanders and Swann comedy duo. Fascinated by the Greek islands and particularly Casos, on which he found both peace and disquiet, he used Greek folksong and popular melodies as the basis for these joyful yet thoughtful songs, orchestrated by John Jansson.
BONUS: The Casos Sonnets, which form a separate subset, were never performed in Donald’s lifetime. We are very fortunate to have secured a tape of these pieces, made by Donald for his own use on his beloved Bluthner piano at his Battersea home, and this CD includes this rare and valuable recording.
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My Song is Love
Performances which are both polished and committed, from this amazing choir, including a few well-known sacred pieces by Durufle, Stainer, Stanford; new works by brilliant Scots composer Martin Dalby, gems from John Tavener and Alan Rawsthorne, and a selection of traditional Scottish songs in super new arrangements by Ken Johnson.
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Cantatas from the Georgian Drawing room
Rediscovered gems from the 18th Century, these secular (or “profane”) cantatas tell of nymphs and shepherds cavorting around the fields of ancient Greece. Concert Royal are one of Britain’s longest-established “authentic performance” ensembles, playing period instruments, and this was their (and Divine Art’s) first CD.
“refreshingly unfamiliar and pleasant listening” – BBC Music Magazine
“excellently performed … first class recording … I recommend it without reservation” – Bulletin of The Federation of Recorded Music Societies